CARTRIDGE FOR A FIREARM

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the firearm field. It relates to an ammunition, specifically to an ammunition for cannon.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] All commonly known firearms use ammunition comprising a cartridge case containing gunpowder and sealed at the front by the projectile.

[0003] Presently, the development of ammunition and firearms has reached such levels that any further improvement in ballistic performance, although desirable, is increasingly difficult to achieve.

[0004] As is known, percussion on the primer case of an ammunition leads to the ignition of the explosive propellant contained therein, thus generating combustion gases. These gases increase the pressure around the propellant that has yet to burn, giving rise to the phenomenon that transforms combustion of the propellant into an explosion. The sudden increase in pressure enormously increases the rate of the combustion itself, resulting in the production of more gas that further increases the pressure by means of a chain reaction. The pressure values thus achieved can reach several thousand atmospheres.

[0005] The gases, strongly compressed, exert their propulsive action by forcing the projectile from the neck of the cartridge case and accelerating it along the barrel. In this manner the projectile reaches its maximum speed. Subsequently, the pressure giving thrust to the projectile, after reaching its peak value, inevitably begins to fall until the gunpowder is spent. However, there is a need for an innovative ammunition that will result in considerable improvement of the firing process.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The main object of the present invention is to provide an ammunition the structural and functional features of which optimise the combustion process of the propellant, particularly gunpowder, resulting in accelerated delivery of the combustion gases and an increase in the propulsion energy available.

[0007] For this purpose, advantageously, the ammunition at issue implies the use of a firing system, the incendiary operation of which allows to fully ignite the propellant instantaneously.

[0008] In this operational circumstance, the value of the consequent pressure peak is reached with a speed considerably greater than that which normally occurs with the known art. This results in a greater ballistic yield from the fired projectile. An ammunition of this type is already known from document WO 2006/077251 A1. The present invention is intended to achieve the above disclosed objectives by providing an alternatively designed ammunition having the features according to claim 1 and a firing process according to claim 7.

[0009] The ammunition according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in cannons and similar firearms. In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the ammunition at issue includes a decalibrated projectile of the type APFSDS (the acronym for "Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot").

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of preferred, though not exclusive, embodiments of an ammunition, which is disclosed by way of non-limitative example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-section perspective view of the ammunition according to the invention, before firing;

FIGURE 2 shows a cross-section perspective view of the ammunition in figure 1 during the particular propellant ignition phase;

FIGURE 3 shows the components of the system;

FIGURE 4 show a front view of the supplementary ignition device;

FIGURE 5 show a top view of the device in figure 4;

FIGURE 6 show two partial views of the device in figure 4 respectively corresponding to two operation phases.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0011] With reference to the figures, an ammunition is shown according to the invention comprising: a cartridge case 3; supplementary ignition devices 4; a projectile (APFSDS) 5; a primer case 6; propellant 7.

[0012] The cartridge case 3 contains the propellant 7 and is sealed at the front by the projectile 5 and at the rear it is closed by a traditional primer case 6.

[0013] According to the invention, advantageously, this ammunition provides for the use of appropriate supplementary ignition devices 4 (in the variant shown in the figures there are two devices) that are round in shape 4a (ring-shaped) and are arranged inside the cartridge case 3, thus immersed in the propellant 7.

[0014] Without departing from the invention, it is possible to have a smaller or greater number of supplementary ignition devices.

[0015] Each supplementary ignition device 4 also has an external wall that allows a perfect and integral fit against the internal wall of the cartridge case 3. The structure of each device 4 consists of a metal sheet structure, said structure comprising a rectangular hollow profile in the hollow space of which there is provided an appropriate mixture of igniting fulminate 8.

[0016] Each device 4 has a side 4c which is flexible, i.e. a side that, when subjected to strong ambient pressure, can deform to assume the position 4d.

[0017] It should also be noted that on the inner surface of the side 4c, there is provided a plurality of small strikers shown in enlarged detail 4e. These strikers are arranged in a circle and are in full contact with the mixture of igniting fulminate 8.

[0018] Finally, each device 4 has, on the top and/or bottom side 4a, a plurality of flash holes 4b or slots, arranged in a circle. These holes are directly in communication with the cavity of the device containing the mixture of igniting fulminate 8.

[0019] Once the ammunition is inserted into the corresponding burst chamber of the barrel and is locked in position by obturation, it is ready to be fired and functions as follows.

[0020] As usual, the percussion of the primer case 6a starts the ignition of the propellant 7, and in micro-fractions of a second combustion gases are generated at a very high pressure. These gases propagate around the remaining propellant that has yet to burn, and press with great force in all directions.

[0021] It should be noted that in this sequence the percentage of explosive propellant involved in the ignition is still low, and the projectile, due to inertia, is still in a state of rest.

[0022] The fundamental feature of the present invention is that, in this short space of time, this sudden increase in pressure presses intensely also against the sides 4c of the devices 4, causing them to bend violently, as illustrated in the detail 4d, as illustrated in Fig. 6.

[0023] The aim of the mechanical action described above is to cause the synchronised hitting of all the strikers 4e against the inner walls 4f of the devices 4, resulting in the percussion of the mixtures of igniting fulminate 8 they contain.

[0024] This mechanical action, obviously, results in the extremely fast detonation of the igniting mixtures 8, which, through the respective flash holes 4b, generate incandescent incendiary flashes 9, in all directions, that come into contact with and detonate in a homogeneous and capillary manner the entire quantity of propellant 7 available in the cartridge case 3.

[0025] In this operational circumstance, therefore a considerably larger quantity of propellant (than that which occurs with the known art) is ignited in a shorter time, giving rise to a chain reaction wherein the resultant speed of delivery of the gases increases more than exponentially.

[0026] Therefore, the achievement of a more effective peak of pressure, adapted to transmit a greater acceleration to the projectile, results in an increase in the kinetic energy of the projectile when it strikes the target, the kinetic energy being proportional to the square of the speed of the projectile.

[0027] The specific modes to embody the invention described above in no way limit the scope of the present application, which covers all the variants of the invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. An ammunition for a firearm comprising a cartridge case (3), supplementary ignition devices (4), a projectile (5), a primer case (6), and propellant (7),
wherein said supplementary ignition devices (4) are placed inside the cartridge case (3) immersed in the propellant, and have a ring-shaped structure (4a) so as to achieve an optimal incendiary action, resulting in a homogeneous and capillary detonation of the propellant (7),
wherein each supplementary ignition device (4) consists of a metal sheet structure, said structure comprising a rectangular hollow profile in the hollow space of which there is a mixture of igniting fulminate (8).
characterised in that each supplementary ignition device (4) has a flexible side such that, when subjected to strong ambient pressure, can assume a deformed position.

2. An ammunition according to claim 1, wherein on the inner surface of the side (4c) of the supplementary ignition device (4) there is a plurality of fixed strikers (4e), which are arranged in a circle and are in full contact with the mixture of igniting fulminate (8).

3. An ammunition according to claim 2, wherein each supplementary ignition device (4) has, on the top and/or bottom side (4a) a multitude of flash holes (4b) arranged in a circle and directly in communication with the cavity of the device itself containing the mixture of igniting fulminate (8).

4. A firing process for an ammunition according to claim 1, wherein there are provided the following stages:

a) percussion of the primer case (6a) and resulting ignition of the propellant (7),

b) production of combustion gases at a very high pressure with immediate action on the sides (4c) of the devices (4) causing the sides to bend (4d),

c) percussion of the mixtures of igniting fulminate (8) and detonation of the mixtures resulting in the production of a plurality of incandescent incendiary flashes (9), and the homogeneous and capillary ignition of all the propellant (7).

5. A firing process according to claim 4, wherein, during the propellant ignition phase, there is provided a sudden increase in pressure, resulting in an increase in the speed of the projectile (5) exiting from the barrel of the firearm.

Ansprüche

1. Munition für eine Feuerwaffe, welche eine Patronenhülse (3), zusätzliche Zündvorrichtungen (4), ein Geschoss (5), eine Anzündkapsel (6) und eine Treibladung (7) umfasst,
wobei die genannten zusätzlichen Zündvorrichtungen (4) sich im Innern der Patronenhülse (3) in die Treibladung eingetaucht befinden und einen ringförmigen Aufbau (4a) aufweisen, um eine optimale Zündwirkung zu erzielen, was zu einer homogenen und kapillaren Detonation der Treibladung (7) führt,
wobei jede zusätzliche Zündvorrichtung (4) aus einer Blechkonstruktion besteht und diese Konstruktion ein rechtwinkliges Hohlprofil umfasst, in dessen Hohlraum sich ein Gemisch aus zündfähigem Fulminat (8) befindet,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass jede zusätzliche Zündvorrichtung (4) eine flexible Seite dergestalt aufweist, dass sie, wenn sie einem starken Umgebungsdruck unterworfen wird, in einen verformten Zustand überführt werden kann.

2. Munition nach Anspruch 1, bei welcher an der Innenfläche der Seite (4c) der zusätzlichen Zündvorrichtung (4) sich eine gewisse Anzahl von festen Zündstiften (4e) befindet, welche in einem Kreis angeordnet sich und sich im festen Kontakt mit der Mischung aus zündfähigem Fulminat (8) befinden.

3. Munition nach Anspruch 2, bei welcher jede zusätzliche Zündvorrichtung (4) auf der Oberseite und/oder an der Unterseite (4a) eine gewisse Anzahl von Brennmulden (4b) aufweist, die in einem Kreis angeordnet sind und direkt mit dem Hohlraum der Vorrichtung selbst in Verbindung stehen, welche das Gemisch aus zündfähigem Fulminat (8) enthält.

4. Abschussvorgang für eine Munition nach Anspruch 1, welcher die folgenden Phasen umfasst:

a) Schlagbeanspruchung der Anzündkapsel (6a) und sich daraus ergebende Zündung der Treibladung (7),

b) Erzeugung von Brenngasen unter einem sehr hohen Druck mit unverzüglicher Wirkung auf die Seiten (4c) der Vorrichtungen (4), wodurch das Biegen der Seiten (4d) bewirkt wird,

c) Schlagbeanspruchung der Mischungen aus zündfähigem Fulminat (8) und Detonation der Gemische, was zur Erzeugung einer gewissen Anzahl von glühenden Brandblitzen (9) und zur homogenen und kapillaren Zündung der gesamten Treibladung (7) führt.

5. Abschussvorgang nach Anspruch 4, bei welchem während der Phase der Zündung der Treibladung ein plötzlicher Druckanstieg vorhanden ist, welcher zu einer Erhöhung des aus dem Rohr der Feuerwaffe austretenden Geschosses (5) führt.

Revendications

1. Munition pour une arme à feu comprenant un étui de cartouche (3), des dispositifs d'allumage supplémentaires (4), un projectile (5), un boîtier d'amorce (6) et un propulseur (7),
où lesdits dispositifs d'allumage supplémentaires (4) sont placés à l'intérieur de l'étui de cartouche (3) immergé dans le propulseur et ayant une structure annulaire (4a) pour atteindre une action incendiaire optimale, se traduisant par une détonation homogène et capillaire du propulseur (7),
où chaque dispositif d'allumage supplémentaire (4) consiste en une structure de feuille métallique, ladite structure comprenant un profil rectangulaire creux dans l'espace creux dans lequel se trouve un mélange de fulminate d'allumage (8),
caractérisée en ce que chaque dispositif d'allumage supplémentaire (4) a un côté flexible de telle sorte que, lorsqu'il est soumis à une pression ambiante forte, il peut assumer une position déformée.

2. Munition selon la revendication 1, où sur la surface intérieure du côté (4c) du dispositif d'allumage supplémentaire (4), il se trouve une pluralité de frappeurs fixes (4e) qui sont agencés en un cercle et qui sont entièrement en contact avec le mélange du fulminate d'allumage (8).

3. Munition selon la revendication 2, où chaque dispositif d'allumage supplémentaire (4) possède, sur le côté supérieur et/ou inférieur (4a), une multitude d'évents (4b) agencés en un cercle et directement en communication avec la cavité du dispositif lui-même contenant le mélange de fulminate d'allumage (8).

4. Procédé de tir pour une munition selon la revendication 1, dans lequel sont réalisées les étapes suivantes:

a) percussion du boîtier d'amorce (6a) suivie de l'allumage du propulseur (7),

b) production des gaz de combustion à une pression très élevée avec l'action immédiate sur les côtés (4c) des dispositifs (4) amenant les côtés à se courber (4d),

c) percussion des mélanges du fulminate d'allumage (8) et détonation des mélanges se traduisant par la production d'une pluralité de flashs incendiaires incandescents (9) et l'allumage homogène et capillaire de l'ensemble du propulseur (7).

5. Procédé de tir selon la revendication 4, dans lequel, durant la phase d'allumage du propulseur, il est réalisé une augmentation brusque de la pression, se traduisant par une augmentation de la vitesse du projectile (5) sortant du fût de l'arme à feux.

Drawing